Dunnage apparatus



J ly 15, 1952 A. c. WEBSTER EIAL 7 2,603,167

DUNNAGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ARV/Nct N58672:}?

615086! w. mean-R ATTOR/ViVS .Fuly 15, 1952 A. c. WEBSTER ETAL 2,603,167

DUNNAGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS July15, 1952 A. c. WEBSTER -r 2,603,167

DU NNAGE APPARATUS July 15, 1952 A. c. WEBSTER ETAL 2,603,167

DUNNAGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I 15-.11 :EIE lEIN VEN TOR.

L. ARV/A- c. W5$7R w BYGA-URGE w. WEBSTER Z 9 wgmm Patented July 15,1952 DUNNAGE APPARATUS Arvin C. Webster and George W. Webster, Detroit,Mich.

Application February 12, 1949, Serial No. 76,133

18 Claims.

This invention relates to a dunnage securing I mechanism that ispermanently secured to the side walls of a boxcar of a like for holdingin position dunnage pieces such as are customarily employed when railwayboxcars are loaded with several layers or tiers of freight.

The present invention relates to the type of dunnage apparatus disclosedin the Reifer et al., Patent No. 2,165,652 granted July 11, 1939, andhas for its principal object to improve upon the construction shown insaid patent.

The principal characteristic of the Reifer patent is that of providingflanged channel-shaped longitudinally extending members which forconvenience will be termed belt members which are secured to the sidewalls of the car and the flanges of which are provided with a continuousuninterrupted series of gear teeth with which are adapted to be engagedclamping or looking plates carried by vertical stanchions and which areprovided with gear teeth adapted to be engaged with the gear teethformed on the flanges of the belt members to hold the stanchions inadjusted position longitudinally of the car. As shown in the Reiferpatent, however, only one flanged gear tooth belt member is provided atthe lower part of each side wall of the boxcar and the stanchions aresupported by a Z-shaped structural member secured closely adjacent tothe top part of the side wall, each stanchion having a clamping boltcarrying rollers upon which the stanchions are supported by the topstructural member for movement longitudinally of the car to any desiredadjusted position and are locked in such position by tightening theclamping bolt upon an upwardly projecting flange of the Z-shapedstructural member. A further feature of the Reifer patent is that ofproviding common operating means for the toothed looking plates wherebythey are simultaneously drawn into engagement with the teeth formed onthe lateral projecting flanges of the U-shaped belt member.

One of the principal purposes for which the Reifer type of constructionis designed is for the carrying and shipment of sheet metal automobileparts, such as fenders or the like which, as they are very readilydeformable, must be securely braced against movement in transit.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide a dunnageapparatus of the type disclosed in the Reifer patent in which at leastthree flanged toothed belt members are secured to each side wall of therailway car in much closer vertically spaced relationship than shown insaid patent, thereby to reduce the unsupported span of the stanchionsand thus obviate any appreciable bending or giving of the stanchionsunder the heavy impacts and blows to which the car is subjected in theordinary handling thereof.

A further object is to improve upon the form of locking means for thelocking plates so that when the plates are moved into locked positionWith the toothed flanges of the belt members, the plates will be heldwith greater rigidity in locked position in such a way as to reduce thepossibility of their becoming accidentally disengaged or loosened whenthe car is in transit or being shifted around in the freight yards. i

Another object of the invention is to improve upon the constructionshown in the Reifer patent by eliminating any obstructions in thechanneled part of the stanchions so as to have the entire length of eachstanchion available for receiving the ends of wooden dunnage pieces.

A further object of the invention is to provide locking means that willbe positively and rigidly locked in position so securely as to reduceaccidental movement of the locking members after they have been securedin locked position.

Another object is to improve upon the construction shown in the Reiferpatent by providing a much stronger and sturdier structure yet withalinexpensive and one in which the use of pivot pin connections subject todirect shearing stresses for operating the locking members, as inReifer, is entirely eliminated.

The above and other objects of the invention will appear more fully fromthe following more detailed description and by reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part hereof and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one side of a railway car showing aportion of the longitudinally extending belt members and a plurality ofadjacent vertically extending stanchions in position thereon, togetherwith dunnage pieces and means for securing the latter in position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation on a slightly reduced scale of the structureshown in Fig. l as seen from the line 22 thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the top portion of a stanchionshowing the manner of supporting each stanchion upon a top belt member,together with a form of operating means for moving the toothed lockingplates into locked EOSltiOll with the toothed horizontal belt mem- Fig.4 is a vertical section on th Fig. 3; e line 4 4 of Fig. 5 is ahorizontal section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fi 6- s 1 *r 'r-w similar to Fig. 3 showing the toothed locking platesand operating means therefor for locking the stanchions in position toeither the central or the lowermost longitudinally extending beltmember;

Fig. l is a vertical section taken on the line of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 broken away and showing a modifiedform of operating and locking means for holding the toothed lockingplates in adjusted position;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section on the line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing a further modified form ofmean for moving and holding a locking plate in locked position, themodified form shown in Fig. 10 being of the toggle type and the figureof the drawing showing the parts in the locked position of the lockingplate;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing the toggle means andlocking plate of Fig. 10 in unlocked position;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section on the line |2-|2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of a pair of stanchions provided with meansfor securing in desired vertical position a pair of stirrups which areadapted to hold suitable transversely extending dunnage pieces forengagement with the tires of the front wheel of a completed automobilein an upwardly inclined position with the tires of the rear wheels ofthe automobile supported on the floor of the boxcar;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section taken on the line |4|4 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a section taken on the line |5-|5 of Fig. 14; and

Fig. 16 is an exploded detail view of the cam actuating member of Figs.3, 4 and 6 showing the manner in which a disc of metal is seated withinand secured to a punched-out boss of the cam member.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the numeral 20 indicates the sidewall of a railway boxcar, 2| indicating a portion of the top thereof and22 the bottom or floor of such car. Suitably secured at spaced intervalsto the side wall 20, as by means of the bolts 23, is a plurality of beltmembers 24, and 26; the belt member 24 being located adjacent to the topof the car, the belt member 25 extending along substantially thehorizontal center line of the side wall and the belt member 26 beinglocated adjacent to the bottom of the car. Each of the belt members, asshown, is in the form of a channel section having laterally extendinflanges 21, 28 along the upper and lower edges, respectively, of thechannel member. These flange members are formed along their entirelength with a series of gear teeth 21a, 28a, respectively, forengagement by gear teeth provided on cooperating upper and lower lockingplates carried by stanchions 30.

A plurality of stanchions 30 are carried by the belt members 24, 25, 26on each side of the boxcar and are adapted to be moved along the beltmembers to any desired position longitudinally of the car and securelylocked in adjusted position by any of the means hereinafter to be morefully described.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawing, each of the stanchions30 is a U-shaped open channel member similar in general configuration 4to the belt members 24, 25, 26 except that the flanges of the stanchionsare not shown as provided with gear teeth 21a, 28a.

The flanges 3|, 32 of each stanchion project inwardly, as shown best inFig. 5, so that a T- head bolt 33, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig.5, may be inserted into the open channel between the opposed inner endsof the flanges ll, 32 and turned crosswise to engage the inner faces ofthe flanges and thus serve to hold a supporting clamp 34 in any desiredvertical position along the stanchion for supporting a dunnage piecesuch, for example, as the member 35 shown in Fig. 1. Likewise, similarT-head bolts 33 may be used at any other position along the length ofthe stanchions to hold dunnage supporting plates 36 in any desiredadjusted vertical position.

As shown in Fig. 1, the dunnage supporting plates 36 are provided withelongated slots 31 adapted to receive horizontally extending dunnagepieces 38.

It will, of course, be understood that each side of the railway car isprovided with a set of three belt members 24, 25, 26 which are securedin horizontal alignment with the belt members 24, 25, 26 on the otherside of the car. Each of the belt members are provided with holesdrilled at regular spaced intervals so that the operation of securingthe belt members to the car merely involves drilling holes through thewood or metal side walls of a car and securing the belt members inposition by the bolts 23. After the belt members have been secured inposition, an equal number of stanchions are mounted on each side of thecar so as to be secured in desired adjusted positions longitudinally ofthe car accordingto the characteristics and types of freight to becarried.

In order that the stanchions 30 may be readily moved to an adjustedposition longitudinally of the car, each stanchion is provided adjacentto the top thereof with a roller carrier 40 (See Fig. 3) constructed ofheavy sheet metal preferably stamped into a substantially U-shaped formand having at the ends of the U inwardly extending flanges 40a (seeFigs. 4 and 5) which engage around the flanges 3|, 32 of the stanchion.Mounted between the central web of the roller carrier 40 and the similarweb 3041 (see Figs. 3 and 4) of each stanchion 30 is a top looking plate4| which is welded along its top edge, as at 42, to the web 30a of thestanchion 30. The lower edge of the locking plate 4| is provided withgear teeth 43 for engagement with the gear teeth 21a provided on theupper flange of the top belt member 24.

A backing plate 44 is interposed between the web of the roller carrier40 and the locking plate 4| and is secured to the latter by the weld 46.The backing plate 44, as shown in Fig. 4, projects downwardly beyond theteeth 21a of the belt member 24 to engage with the flange 21 thereofand, in cooperation with the web 30a of the stanchion 30, serves toprevent lateral misalignment between the teeth 43 of the locking plateand the teeth 21a of the belt member.

Rotatably secured to the lower end of the roller carrier bracket 40 is apair of rollers 46 which engage with the top face of the upper leg ofthe belt member 24 and thus serve to support each stanchion 30 upon thetop belt member for ready movement thereof longitudinally along the carto the desired position.

Means are provided in connection with the roller carrier 40 to urge thestanchion 30 to a raised upper position in which the gear teeth 43 ofthe locking plate 4| will be moved out of mesh with the gear teeth 21awhenever the lowerlocking plates are released and moved to inoperativeposition, as will hereinafter be more fully de-- scribed. In order toaccomplish this result the locking plate 4| which, as shown more clearlyin-Fig. 5 of the drawings, is also in the form of a U-shaped channelmember having side walls 4| a which embrace the side walls or legs 30aof the stanchions 30; the edges of the side walls 4| a being rigidlysecured to the stanchion, as by welding, as indicated at 4| b. Each sideleg 4| a of the locking plate 4| is provided with a laterally projectingtab or ear 4Ic (Fig. 3) which forms an abutment against which the upperend of a coiled compression spring 41 rests, the lower end of saidspring abutting against a similar tab or ear 40b projecting inwardlyfrom the side wall 400 of the roller bracket 40.

As also shown most clearly in Fig. 5, the side walls 400 of the rollerbracket 40 are formed in the stamping thereof with an outwardly pressedcurved portion 40d, the inner side of which forms a groove for confiningthe springs 41 against lateral deformation when the said springs arecompressed. In order to simplify and reduce manufacturing costs, thetabs 40b and Me are formed by punching out a section of the side walls400 and Ma of the respective members 40 and 4|.

The springs 41 are of sufiicient strength that when the stanchions aremounted upon the top belt member 24 the upper ends of the springs actingupon the abutments or tabs He will hold the entire stanchion in anelevated position with the gear teeth 43 of the locking plate 4| raisedout of engagement with the gear teeth 21a, of the .belt member 24, therollers 46 abutting against the upper face of the top leg and taking thedownward thrust of the springs upon the tabs 46b that are integral withthe roller bracket 40 and the upward thrust of the springs serving toraise the entire stanchion to which the top looking plates 4| arerigidly welded to an uppermost inoperative unlocked position.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4. a pin 48 secured to the web 30a of thestanchion by welding, as at 46a, projects through suitable holesprovided in the locking plate 4| and the backing plate 44, and alsothrough an elongated slot .48?) formed in the central web of the rollerbracket 40 and serves to-limit the upward movement of the stanchionunder the action of the springs 41.

As will be seen from the foregoing, the desired number of stanchions canbe placed upon the upper belt member by tilting the lower end of eachstanchion outwardly toward the longitudinal center line of the car andafter the rollers 46 have cleared the top edges of the gear teeth 21aand rest upon the upper face of the top leg of the belt member 24, thelower end of the stanchion may then be moved toward the side wall 20 ofthe boxcar to a vertical position to be supported by the rollers 46 forready adjustment longitudinally of the car.

Various means for locking the stanchions in adjusted position along theside walls may be provided, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

In Figs. 3, 4 and 6 of the drawings, I have shown a means for actuatingthe lower locking plate members by means of a cam and latch mechanismthat has proven entirely satisfactory after a long period ofexperimental use in actual service. In each of these figures of thedrawings, the numeral 56 indicates a lower locking plate, the upper edgeof which is provided with e teeth 5| for engagement with the gear teeth28a provided on the lower lateral flange of each of the respectivebeltmembers 24, 25 and 26. This locking plate 50 is slidably secured to thecentral web 30a of the stanchion by means of a shouldered rivet 52having adjacent to the head 52a thereof'a portion of larger diameter521) which passes through an elongated slot 520 provided in the web 30aof the stanchion and which terminates in a shoulder 52d that abutsagainst the inner face of the locking plate 50. The length of theportion 52b is slightly greater than the thickness of the web 30a. so asto provide a few thousandths of an inch clearance and thereby permit thelocking plate 50 to slide readily along the stanchion member when theplate 50 is moved to locked or unlocked position. The reduced portion52c of the rivet passes through a retaining plate 53 secured to thelocking plate 50, preferably by welding, as indicated at 5311. The upperend of the retaining plate 53, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of thedrawing, projects upwardly beyond the gear teeth 5| a distanceconsiderably greater than the root depth of the teeth 5| so that whenthe locking plate 5| is moved to unlocked position, the retaining platewill still remain in engagement with the outer faces of the gear teeth28a and thus serve to hold the'gear teeth 5| in proper lateral alignmentwith the gear teeth 28a and thereby insure proper intermeshing of thegear teeth 5| of the locking plate with the gear teeth 28a on the lowerflange of each respective belt member.

The lower edge of each locking plate 50, as shown in Fig. 3, is providedwith a curved cam face 54 for engagement by a curved cam face 55 formedon the outer edge of a cam member 56. The cam member 56 is in the formof a stamping which is punched to provide a laterally offset portion561: at the center of which is formed a projecting boss 5619 which fitsrotatably into a hole 58 in a cover plate 59 suitably secured, as byscrews 60, to the stanchion 30. A cam actuating member 51 (see Figs. 4and 16) also preferably made as a stamping seats within the offsetportion 56a and is also formed with a projecting boss 5141 which fitsrotatably in a hole 6| formed in the web 30a of the stanchion in axialalignment with the hole 56. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the" camactuating member 51 has a radially projecting ear 51b which extends intoan elongated arcuate slot 56d provided in the cam member 56. Projectingoutwardly and radially from the opposite side of the cam actuatingmember 51 is an ear 510 for engagement with a latch 62 rotatably mountedon a pin 62a within the housing 60, the latch 58 being normally urged bya torsion spring 621) into engagement with the cam actuating member 51.

For simplicity and economy of manufacture the cam member 56 and the camactuating member 51 are stamped from heavy sheet metal, approximatelyfi; of an inch thick, the offset and boss portions 56a and 56b of member56 being formed simultaneously by the same stroke of the punch presswhich cuts the member 56 into the desired configuration to form the camsurface 55 and at the same time punch out and form the elongated slot56d.

In the stamping of the cam actuating member 51, shown most clearly inthe perspective detail view of Fig. 16, its central punched out bossportion 51a has a plurality of radially extending short ribs 51d formedon the inner web 51c thereof against which a circular disc 51 is seatedand integrally united by welding the disc 51f to the ribs 51d. After thedisc 51} has been fitted in place within the cam actuating member 51 andwelded in place therein the disc is then provided with a non-circular,preferably square, aperture as indicated by the dotted lines 51g inaxial alignment with the similar aperture 51h formed in member 51 whenit is stamped out; the aligned non-circular apertures 51g and 51hserving to accommodate an angle bar wrench by means of which suflicientforce may be exerted on the rugged parts 51 and 56 to force the gearteeth of the locking plates carried by the stanchions in tight wedgingengagement with their cooperating gear teeth on the belt members.

The operation of the locking plate 50 by the cam 58 and cam actuatingmember 51, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6 and as above described, is asfollows:

Assuming that a stanchion has been mounted upon the upper belt member 24with the rollers 48 resting upon the upper leg of the belt member andwith the stanchion raised by the springs 41 so that the gear teeth 43 ofthe upper locking plate are out of engagement with the gear teeth 21a,the stanchion is rolled along to the desired adjusted position. insertedinto the square opening or bore formed by the apertures 51g, 51h in thecam actuating member 51 and the cam actuating member is rotated in acounterclockwise direction (Fig. 3). The ear 51b of the cam actuatingmember engages the left hand end of the elongated slot 56d thus rotatingthe cam member 56 and thereby causing the cam surface 55 of said cammember by its engagement with the cam surface 54 on the bottom end ofthe locking plate 50 to move the locking plate 50 upwardly intoengagement with the gear teeth 28a of the lower stanchion and, aftersuch gear teeth have become engaged, drawing the entire stanchiondownwardly against the action of the springs 41 until the gear teeth 43of the upper locking plate 4| have become tightly wedged into engagementwith the gear teeth 21a on the upper flange of the belt member 24. Afterthe gear teeth 43 and 5| have become tightly forced into engagement withthe cooperating gear teeth 21a and 28a, the cam actuating member 51 willby then have been rotated into a position such that the latch 58 will beforced by the spring 62b into engagement with the cam actuating member51 behind the ear 51c thereof, thereby to hold the cam member 56securely and rigidly in locked position with the gear teeth 43 and BIrigidly locked with a wedging engagement into their respectivecooperating gear teeth 21a and 28a.

In order to disengage or unlock the locking plates, the cam actuatingmember 51, after having had a suitable wrench engaged with thenoncircular bore thereof, is rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. 3).During the first rotation of the cam actuating member 51, the ear 51cthereof causes the latch 58 to be pushed downwardly against the actionof the spring 62b and during such period of rotation the ear 51b movesthrough the elongated slot 56d until after the latch 58 has become fullydisengaged, the right hand side of the ear 51b engages the right handside of the slot 58d and causes the cam member 56 to be rotated in aclockwise direction to permit movement of the locking plate 50downwardly an amount sufficient not only to cause the gear A suitablewrench is then 8 teeth 5| to be completely disengaged from the gearteeth 28a, but also to permit the springs 41 to raise the stanchionupwardly and move the gear teeth 43 of the top locking plate 4|completely out of engagement with the gear teeth 21a.

In Figs. 6 and '1 of the drawings we have shown the locking members thatare employed for looking each of the stanchions to the central andlowermost belt members 25 and 28, respectively. As shown in Fig. 6, anupper locking plate 88, preferably formed as a U-shaped stamping, hasits side walls embracing the side walls 38a of the stanchion and issecurely fastened to the stanchion preferably by welding the outer edgesof the side legs of the locking plate to the outer faces of the sidelegs 30a of the stanchion. The lower end of the locking plate isprovided with gear teeth 65a for engagement with the gear teeth 21a ofeither the central or lowermost belt member 25 or 26, as the case maybe. The top edge of the locking plate 66 is also preferably welded tothe web 30a of the stanchion, as indicated at 651; (Fig. '1). Aretaining plate 65 similar to the retaining plates 44 and 53 is welded,as at 66a, to the locking plate 86.

In Fig. 6 we have shown the same construction for the cam member 56, thecam actuating member 51 and latch 58, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawingswhere these parts have been shown in cooperation with the top rollercarrying bracket 40.

Instead of employin a latch 58 to hold the cam member 56 againstmovement to an unlocked position, the left hand side 10 (Fig. 3) of thecam plate may cause to engage a shoulder 10a formed at the left hand endof the cam surface 54 of the locking plate 50, the curvature of the camsurfaces 54 and 55 being so designed as to hold or press the edge 10 ofthe cam members 56 into tight engagement with the shoulder 10a.

In Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawing is shown a modified form of constructionfor the cam member and cam actuating member shown and described inconnection with Figs. 3, 4 and 6 in which the members 56 and 51 areshown as separate pieces. In Figs. 8 and 9, the cam member 1| is formedof a flat piece of heavy sheet metal and is provided with a curved camface 1| a for engagement with a curved cam face 12 provided on the loweredge of a locking plate 50a similar to the locking plate 50. The camface Hat is provided with a raised portion 1Ib which terminates in ashoulder 1lc adapted to engage a similar shoulder 12a formed byrecessing the cam face 12 of the locking plate 50a. The cam member 1| isprovided with a hex-shaped aperture 1Id into which is received ahex-shaped shoulder 13a provided intermediate the ends of a boss piece13 which is also formed with a rectangular, noncircular, preferablysquare, bore 13b. The boss member 13 is preferably formed from a pieceof hexagonal bar stock which can readily be machined by a simplemachining operation to provide the cylindrical bosses 13c and 13d withthe hexagonal-shaped flange or shoulder 13a intermediate the ends of theboss piece for engagement with the hex-shaped opening 1ld in the camplate 1|. The boss is received rotatably within one of the openings 6|provided in the stanchion 30 while the boss 13d projects into and isalso rotatable in the aligned opening 6la formed in a housing 500.similar to the housing 60 shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6 of the drawing, the

openings 6| and 6 la being in axial alignment and formingbearings forthe boss member 13.

As will be obvious from the foregoing, when the cam member H is rotatedin a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 8) the cam surfaces Na and 12thereof are so constructed that the locking' plate 50a will be movedupwardly until the teeth are bottomed in the teeth 28a of the beltmember. Continued rotation of the cam member 1| after the gear teeth ofboth the upper and lower locking plates have become bottomed produces aslight distortion or springin of the webs of the belt member until thecam member has been moved to the extreme limit of its travel at whichtime the left hand or leading face 11d of the cam member engages againstthe shoulder 50b of the locking plate and the shoulder 1lc of the cammember engages behind the shoulder 12a provided in the locking plate50a.

The slight springing or distortion of the belt members produced when thecam member 1| is moved to locked position also occurs when the cammember is moved in a clockwise direction to unlocked position, theflanges of the belt members yielding sufficiently when a wrench isinserted in the bore 13a of the cam member to permit the cam member 1!to be forced in a clockwise direction to disengage the shoulders 110 and12a.

In'the forms of the invention heretofore described the lower movablelocking plate is not positively withdrawn from looking engagement withthe gear teeth 28a on the lower flanges of the respective belt membersbut the force of gravity must be relied upon to produce the requiredamount of movement of the lower locking plates to insure that the gearteeth thereof will become completely disengaged from the gear teeth onthe belt members. It has been found as a result of a long period ofexperimental use that there is a tendency at times for the lower lockingplates to stick, in which event, the plates must be struck with a hammeror other suitable striking tool to produce complete disengagement of thegear teeth thus to permit the stanchions to be moved longitudinally ofthe belt members.

In order to obviate this objection, the construction shown in Figs. to12 has been devised. As shown in these figures of the drawings, a member15 somewhat similar to the cam actuating member 51 has projecting bossportions 15a, 15b which are rotatably received respectively in one ofthe apertures 6| formed in the web 30a of the stanchion and in theaxially aligned aperture 6|a of a housing member 60a. The member 15 hasa radially extending ear portion 150 to which is pivotally secured, asby a pin 16, the lower end of a toggle arm 11. The toggle arm 11 whichis preferably formed of a piece of heavy sheet metal terminatesat itsupper end in a cylindrical shaped portion 11a which fits within acorrespondingly shaped. recess 18 formed within the locking plate 59b.jIm'mediately below the cylindricalirecessed or apertured portion 18 thelockin plate is provided with a flare cutaway portion 19 to providesuffic ent clearance for the swinging movement of the toggle link 11when the locking plate 50b is moved from the locked position shown inFig. 10 to the unlocked position shown in Fig. 11. The boss portion ofthe member 15 i provided with a non-circular, preferably square, bore 80to receive a similarly shaped end of a wrench for rotating the member 15and thereby actuating the toggle to move the locking plate to and fromlocked and unlocked positions. The radial ear 150 of the member 15 isprovided with a shoulder 15:1 for engagement with a cooperating shoulder11c formed adjacent the lower end of the toggle link 11 to serve notonly as a stop to limit movement of the toggle when it is moved toitslocked position, but also to take the thrust reaction off theconnecting pin 16.

Intermediate its ends the toggle link 11 is provided with a laterallyprojecting rib 11b which, when the toggle is moved to unlocked position,engages the lower face of the locking plate 501) at one side of theflared cutout portion 19, thus serving to limit the travel of theunlocking plate and toggle link 11 when the toggle is moved to unlockedposition.

The operation of the modification just described, as will be readilyunderstood, is as follows:

When it is desired to move the locking plate 5022 into locked position asuitable angle bar. wrench is inserted in the square opening provided inthe boss of the member 15 and the member is rotated in a clockwisedirection from the position shown in Fig. 10 to the position shown inFig. 11 thereby to cause the locking plate 50b to be moved upwardlyuntil the gear teeth 5| thereof are forced snugly with a wedgingengagement into the gear teeth 28a on the bottom flange of a beltmember. This wedging engagement occurs just at about the time the togglereaches its dead center position, the member 15 being rotated slightlybeyond dead center at which time the shoulder 11a on the toggle link 11engages with the shoulder 15d provided on the ear of the member 15thereby to hold the locking plate 502) and toggle securely in lockedposition.

When it is desired to unlock the locking plate 50b, the member 15, aswill be readily understood, is rotated in a counterclockwise directionfrom the position shown in Fig. 10 to the position shown in Fig. 11, theconnection of the upper end of the toggle link 11 serving to positivelywithdraw the teeth 5| of the locking member 5% completely out ofengagement with the locking teeth 28a of the belt members.

It will be understood that each stanchion 30 will be provided at theupper end thereof with a roller carrier bracket 40 and rollers 46together with the springs 41 to cause the entire stanchion, togetherwith the various locking plates, to move in an upward direction anamount suflicient to cause each one of the upper locking plates for thebelt members 25 and 26 to be raised clear out of engagement with theteeth 21a on each of the respective belt members.

engagement with the gear teeth 21a of the central belt member 25 and thelower belt member 26 are rigidly secured to the stanchions, the movementof the entire stanchion bodily upward by the action of the springs 41also insures the complete disengagement of the gear teeth 65a of each ofthe locking plate members 65.

As will be evident from the foregoing, any desired number of stanchions30 may be em- 11 ployed, it being understood, however, that an equalnumber will be used on each side of the car. Each of these stanchions,when the locking devices have been unlocked, may be rolled freely andreadily upon the rollers 48 to any desired position longitudinally thecar.

For the purpose of transporting fully assembled automobiles or chassisequipped with wheels and tires an additional number of stanchions 30|which, as shown in Figs. 13 to 15, have secured thereto, preferably bywelding a plate 8| provided with a plurality of vertically spacedkeyhole slots 82 in which are adapted to be engaged the pins 83 and 84projecting from and secured within a plate 85 to which is integrallyunited, also preferably by welding, a U-shaped stirrup 85.

The pins 83 are provided with an enlarged head 83a adapted to passfreely through the round hole portion 82a of the keyhole slots 82 whilethe pins 84 are of a diameter such as also to pass freely through saidround portions 82a. but are much larger than the slot portion 82b. Inattaching the stirrup plates to the plate 8|, the heads 83a of pins 83are inserted through the round hole portions 82a of slots 82 and thestirrup plate is slid downwardlyuntil the pin 83 nears the bottom ofslot 821) at which time the pin 84 comes into alignment with the roundhole portion 82a of the second keyhole slot from the one within whichthe pin 83 is engaged, the pin 84 is then entered into the second slotand the stirrup plate moved downwardly until the headed pin 83 isbottomed in its slot and pin 84 rests against the bottom of the roundhole 82b of the slot 82 into which it has been entered.

The stirrups 86 are adapted to receive a pipe or other suitable dunnagepiece 81, the ends of which are engaged within a pair of opposedstirrups, one on each side of the car.

Except for the addition of the plates 8| the stanchions 38! are in allrespects identical with the stanchions 30. Assembled automobiles orchassis may be loaded in an inclined position by raising either thefront or rear wheels thereof and adjusting the stirrup plates verticallyand the stanchions 38| longitudinally until a pair of pipes 81 can beaccurately positioned under the tires of the raised wheels to supportthe automobiles or chassis in the desired adjusted inclined position.The plates 8| of stanchions 30| extend from a point substantially midwaybetween the lower and middle belt members to a point between the middleand upper belt members and said stanchions are provided with any of theforms of locking devices shown in Figs. 3 to 12. In securing the platesto the stanchions one of the holes 82a of a keyhole slot is located inaxial alignment with the bore of the actuating member or the movablelocking plate for the middle belt member.

It will be noted that after the pins of the stirrup plates have beenengaged within the keyhole slots, as above described, the load of thecars carried by the pipes 81 is transmitted to the bottom of thestirrups thusproducing a moment of force that tends to move the upperend of the stirrup plate away from the plate 8|. Such movement is,however, resisted and prevented by the locked engagement of the enlargedheads 83a of the pins 83 within the slotted portions 82b of the keyholeslots 82. e

As a freight, car or other vehicle equipped with the dunnage apparatusof the present invention can be fully and compactly loaded withautomobile parts such, for example, as fenders,

hood sections and other sheet metal body parts as well as any otherautomobile parts, such as, engines, transmissions, axles or the like forassembly into chassis or fully completed automobiles, the same vehiclecan be used for shipping the assembled jobs to dealers or distributorssince after the cargo of parts and the dunnage pieces therefor have beenremoved, the stanchions 30| provided with the plates 8| can then beemployed by placing the stirrups in proper adjusted position andadjusting the stanchions 38| longitudinally as the loading proceeds.

As in all forms of locking devices described and illustrated, the upperlocking plates of each cooperating pair are firmly and rigidly secureddirectly to the stanchion by welding and as the movable lower lockingplates are so designed and constructed that the cam surfaces thereof, asshown in Figs. 3, 6 and 8, cause the opposed gear teeth of the upper andlower locking plates to be tightly locked in engagement with the gearteeth 21a and 28a of each belt member and to be locked securely in suchposition against accidental displacement, the dunnage apparatus of thepresent invention is so securely locked in desired adjusted positionthat accidental movement thereof, as has been demonstrated as the resultof a long period of experimental use in actual practice, is impossible,the construction being so shock proof against the shocks and jars towhich the railway cars are subjected in ordinary usage that consequentaccidental movement of the dunnage apparatus and damage of the freightbeing carried is entirely prevented.

It will, of course, be understood that the stanchions are locatedlengthwise of the car in accordance with the particular configuration ofthe articles to be carried and that the requisite wooden dunnagecross-pieces, such as the members 35 and 38, will be placed in positionto brace the articles securely in position against movement in transit.For example, if a boxcar load of automobile fenders or other sheet metalbody parts is to be shipped, the parts are arranged in compact nestedengagement in as many horizontal layers or tiers as may be required tofill the boxcar completely from floor to roof; the loading naturallystarting at each end of the car and proceeding towards the central sidedoor entrance.

It will also be understood that the stanchions will be securely lockedin the desired positions, and such dunnage supporting plates 34 and 36as may be necessary according to the characteristics of the items ofcargo are secured to the stanchions by suitable T-bolts 33. Supportingdunnage pieces 38 are then placed in position in the slots of plates 36on adjacent stanchions on one side of the car and the other ends of suchpieces are inserted in plates 36 of similarly located stanchions on theother side of the car. After the freight has been stacked upon thesupporting dunnage pieces 38, bracing dunnage pieces 35 are then placedin proper positions to securely hold and brace the freight againstlongitudinal movement.

While the stanchions in most cases will be locked in pairs in lateral ortransverse alignment, if the configuration of the freight requires thebracing or supporting dunnage pieces to be inclined at an angle to theside walls instead of being perpendicular thereto, the stanchions canreadily be secured in any desired offset position to obtain therequisite inclination of the dunnage pieces; the relatively closespacing of the gear teeth 21a, 28a enabling very precise adjustments ofthe stanchions to be effected as desired.

Attention is directed to the fact that in all forms of the inventionshown the locking plates and the means for actuating them are locatedbetween the outer face of the stanchion and the side wall of the car andthat none of the operating means, as distinguished from the Reiferpatent, is located within the channels of the stanchions. This is animportant feature because when substantially the entire length of theinwardly facing channel of each stanchion is kept unobstructed thedunnage holding plates 35 or 38 can be placed at any desired verticalposition and very fine and accurate vertical adjustments thereof may bemade to insure snug contacting engagement of the dunnage pieces with thecargo to prevent any accidental movement thereof in transit.

It will further be understood that when a car has been equipped with thebelt members and stanchions 30 preferably fifty of the latter,twenty-five on each sidewall, being used and sixteen of the stanchions30!, eight to each side, the apparatus then remains as a permanentinstallation, a locker box preferably being provided in the car forstorage of the dunnage retaining plates 34 and 36, T-bolts 33' andstirrup plates 8l86 when such parts are not in actual use.

In all forms of the invention shown the means for actuating the lockingplates are constructed and arranged so that the locking means, forexample, the latch 58 of Figs. 3, 4 or 6, the cam shoulders 50b, He andthe toggle link stops 75d and 110 do not come into locked position untila slight distortion of the flanges of the belt members has occurredsuflicient to produce a localized pre-loading of said flanges adjacenteach stanchion by an amount greater than any weight to which they wouldbe subjected in carrying any of the loads intended to be carried by thestanchions in the ordinary usage thereof. Therefore, no furtherdistortion of the belt member in a downward direction as the result ofgravitational force on the load can occur when the freight to be carriedis loaded upon the dunnage pieces carried by the stanchions. In order tosecure the greatest possible advantage of this pre-loading of the beltmembers, a block 90, as shown in Fig. '7, may be slidably secured as bya shouldered rivet 92, similar to the rivets 52, to the web 30a of eachstanchion between each pair of locking plates to project into thechannel of the belt member between the inner faces of the toothedflanges 27, 28 with which the said pair of locking plates are intendedto engage. The thickness of the block 90 is slightly less than thedistance between the opposed inner faces of the flanges 21, 28 of thebelt members so that when said flanges are distorted by the pressure ofthe locking plates to effect a pre-loading of the flanges as abovedescribed, the block 90 will be clamped securely between the opposedinner faces of the flanges thereby tying the pre-loaded flanges togetherto act as a unit with the block 90 in such a way that each flange servesto complement its opposed flange in resisting any upward or downwarddistortion thereof due to the shocks and jars to which the freight caris subjected.

As the stanchions, as hereinbefore described, are caused to be movedupwardly by the springs 41 whenever the movable members of each pair oflocking plates are moved to unlocked position, the blocks 90 aretherefore slidably mounted on the stanchions by each rivet 92 beingslidably received in an elongated slot 93' in the stanchion web 3011.

In connection with the pre-loading of the flanges 21, 28 of the beltmembers just described, it is to be noted that the dunnage pieces 38which carry the weight of the loaded freight have their ends received inthe slots 31 of the dunnage supporting plates 36 and it will beunderstood that each tier of freight will be snugly braced across thetop thereof by similar dunnage pieces 38, the ends of which are alsoreceived in slots 31 of plates 36 so that any tendency of the freight tomove upwardly due to the buckling or bending movements of the supportingbeams of the freight car as well as downward motion thereof iscommunicated to the stanchions and thence directly to the pre-loadedflanges 21, 28 of the belt members. It will thus be seen that each tierof freight is so tied into the supporting stanchions and thence to thepre-loaded flanges 21, 28 of the belt members as to act as a unit withthe latter.

While we have described the invention as installed in a railway boxcar,it will be apparent that the dunnage apparatus can readily be installedin any type of vehicle, such as moving or freight carrying automotiveroad vehicles. It is likewise to be understood that While we havedescribed and illustrated preferred forms of the invention that haveproved to be highly satisfactory in continuous experimental use, thatmany changes, variations and modifications thereof may be resorted towithout departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in theclaims hereunto appended.

We claim:

1. Dunnage apparatus for vehicles, of the type wherein a plurality ofU-shaped channeled stanchions are mounted for longitudinal movementalong longitudinally extending belt members secured to the innersidewalls of the vehicle and said belt members are provided with upperand lower flanges each having an uninterrupted series of projecting gearteeth, and said stanchions being provided with a plurality of pairs ofopposed cooperating plates, one pair for each belt member, each of saidplates being provided with gear teeth for engagement with the gear teethon said belt members, characterized by the upper member of each pair oflocking plates being rigidly fixed to the stanchion, and means formoving the other member of each pair of locking plates until the gearteeth of the pair of locking plates are forced into opposed tightwedging engagement with the gear teeth of their cooperating belt member.

2. Dunnage apparatus for vehicles, of the type wherein a plurality ofU-shaped channeled stanchions are mounted for longitudinal movementalong longitudinally extending belt members secured to the innersidewalls of the vehicle and said belt members are provided with upperand lower flanges each having an uninterrupted series of projecting gearteeth, and said stanchions being provided with a plurality of pairs ofopposed cooperating plates, one pair for each belt member, each of saidplates being provided with gear teeth for engagement with the gear teethon said belt members, characterized by the upper member of each pair oflooking plates being rigidly fixed to the stanchion, means for movingthe other member of each pair of locking plates until the gear teeth ofthe pair of locking plates are forced into opposed tight Wedgingengagement with the gear teeth of their cooperating belt member, andmeans for locking said movable plate in said wedging engagement.

3. Dunnage apparatus for vehicles, of the type wherein a plurality ofU-shaped channeled stanchions are mounted for longitudinal movementalong longitudinally extending belt members secured to the innersidewalls of the vehicle and said belt members are provided with upperand lower flanges each having an uninterruputed series of projectinggear teeth, and said stanchions being provided with a plurality of pairsof opposed cooperating plates, one pair for each belt member, each ofsaid plates being provided with gear teeth for engagement with the gearteeth on said belt members, characterized by the upper member of eachpair of locking plates being rigidly fixed to the stanchion, and meansfor moving the other member of each pair of locking plates until thegear teeth of the pair of locking plates are forced into opposed tightwedging engagement with the gear teeth of their cooperating belt member,said means including a housing secured to the outer wall of saidstanchion and located between it and the sidewall of said vehicle, awrench receiving member rotatably mounted in said housing and stanchionand means actuated thereby for causing the movable locking plate to bemoved towards its cooperating fixed locking plate.

4. Dunnage apparatus for vehicles, of the type wherein a plurality ofU-shaped channeled stanchions are mounted for longitudinal movementalong longitudinally extending belt members secured to the innersidewalls of the vehicle and said belt members are provided with upperand lower flanges each having an uninterrupted series of projecting gearteeth, and said stanchions being provided with a plurality of pairs ofopposed cooperating plates, one pair for each belt member, each of saidplates being provided with gear teeth for engagement with the gear teethon said belt members, characterized by the upper member of each pair oflocking plates being rigidly fixed to the stanchion, and means formoving the other member of each pair of locking plates until the gearteeth of the pair of locking plates are forced into opposed tightwedging engagement with the gear teeth of their cooperating belt member,said means including a housing secured to the outer wall of saidstanchion and located between it and the sidewall of said vehicle, awrench receiving member rotatably mounted in said housing and stanchionand means actuated thereby for causing the movable locking plate to bemoved towards its cooperating fixed locking plate, said locking platesand the means for actuating said movable plate being located between theweb of said stanchion and the sidewall of the vehicle whereby theU-shaped channel of each stanchion is left free and unobstructed in theregion of said locking plates for the reception of dunnage retainingbrackets and clamping bolts therefor in any desired verticallyadjustable position.

5. Dunnage apparatus for vehicles, of the type wherein a plurality ofU-shaped channeled stanchions are mounted for longitudinal movementalong longitudinally extending belt members secured to the innersidewalls of the vehicle and said belt members are provided with upperand lower flanges each having an uninterrupted series of projecting gearteeth, and said stanchions being provided with a plurality of pairs ofopposed cooperating plates, one pair for each belt member, each of saidplates being provided with gear teeth for engagement with the gear teethon said belt members, characterized by the upper member of each pair oflocking plates being rigidly fixed to the stanchion, and means formoving the other member of each pair of locking plates until the gearteeth of the pair of locking plates are forced into opposed tightwedging engagement with the gear teeth of their cooperating belt member,said means including a housing secured to the outer wall of saidstanchion and located between it and the sidewall of said vehicle, awrench receiving member rotatably mounted in said housing and stanchion,and means interposed between the movable member of the pair of lockingplates and said rotatable wrench receiving member for causing rotationof the latter to produce movement of the movable locking plate towardsits fixed cooperating plate.

6. Dunnage apparatus for vehicles, of the type wherein a plurality ofU-shaped channeled stanchions are mounted for longitudinal movementalong longitudinally extending belt members secured to the innersidewalls of the vehicle and said belt members are provided with upperand lower flanges each having an uninterrupted series of projecting gearteeth, and said stanchions being provided with a plurality of pairs ofopposed cooperating plates, one pair for each belt member, each of saidplates being provided with gear teeth for engagement with the gear teethon said belt members, characterized by the upper member of each pair oflooking plates being rigidly fixed to the stanchion and the other memberof each cooperating pair of locking plates being mounted on saidstanchion for relative movement towards and away from the fixed memberof said pair, said movable locking plate being provided with a curvedcam surface, a rotatable cam member having a cam surface for engagementtherewith, and a rotatable cam actuating member for actuating said cammember.

7. Dunnage apparatus for vehicles, of the type wherein a plurality ofU-shaped channeled stanchions are mounted for longitudinal movementalong longitudinally extending belt members secured to the innersidewalls of the vehicle and said belt members are provided with upperand lower flanges each having an uninterrupted series of projecting gearteeth, and said stanchions being provided with a plurality of pairs ofopposed cooperating plates, one pair for each belt member, each of saidplates being provided with gear teeth for engagement with the gear teethon said belt members, characterized by the upper member of each pair oflocking plates being rigidly fixed to the stanchion and the other memberof each cooperating pair of locking plates being mounted on saidstanchion for relative movement towards and away from the fixed memberof said pair, said movabl looking plate being provided with a curved camsurface, a rotatable cam member having a cam surface for engagementtherewith, and a rotatable cam actuating member for actuating said cammember, and means for locking said cam member against rotation when thegear teeth of said pair of cooperating locking plates have been forcedinto wedged engagement with the gear teeth of their cooperating beltmember.

8. Dunnage apparatus for vehicles, of the type wherein a plurality ofU-shaped channeled stanchions are mounted for longitudinal movementalong longitudinally extending belt members secured to the innersidewalls of the vehicle and said belt members are provided with upperand lower flanges each having an uninterrupted series of projecting gearteeth, and said stanchions being provided with a plura ity of pairs ofopposed cooperating plates, one pair for each belt member, each of saidplates being provided with gear teeth for engagement with the gear teethon said belt members, characterized by the upper member of each pair oflocking plates being rigidly fixed to the stanchion and the other memberof each cooperating pair of locking plates being mounted on saidstanchion for relative movement towards and away from the fixed memberof said pair, said movable locking plate being provided with a curvedcam surface, a rotatable cam member having a cam surface for engagementtherewith, a rotatable cam actuating member for actuating said cammember, and a spring pressed latch for engaging said cam actuatingmember and looking it against rotation when the gear teeth of said pairof cooperating locking plates have forced-into wedged engagement withthe gear teeth of their cooperating belt member.

9. Dunnage apparatus for vehicles, of the type wherein a plurality ofU-shaped channeled stanchions are mounted for longitudinal movementalong longitudinally extending belt members secured to the innersidewalls of the vehicle and said belt members are provided with upperand lower flanges each having an uninterrupted series of projecting gearteeth, and said stanchions being provided with a plurality of pairs ofopposed cooperating plates, one pair for each belt member, each of saidplates being provided with gear teeth for engagement with the gear teethon said belt members, characterized by the upper member of each-pair oflocking plates being rigidly fixed to the stanchion and the other memberof each cooperating pair of locking plates being mounted on saidstanchion for'relative movement towards and away from the fixed memberof said pair, said movable looking plate being provided with a curvedcam surface, a rotatable cam member having a cam surface for engagementtherewith, a rotatable cam actuating member for actuating said cammember, a spring pressed latch for engaging said cam actuating memberand looking it against rota tion when the gear teeth of said pair ofcooperating locking'plates have forced into wedged engagement with thegear teeth of their cooperating belt member, and a lost motionconnection between said cam and cam actuating members for permittingsuflicient rotation of said actuating member to disengage said latchbefore it starts to move said cam member towards unlocking position.

10. Dunnage apparatus for vehicles, of the type wherein a plurality ofU-shaped channeled stanchions are'mounted for longitudinal movementalong longitudinally extending belt members secured to the innersidewalls of the vehicle and said belt members are provided with upperand lower flanges each having an uninterrupted series of projecting gearteeth, charac-- terized by the provision of an upper and a lower beltmember located respectively closely adjacent to the roof and to thefloor of the vehicle, a third belt member located intermediate saidupper and lower belt members, and said stanchions each being providedwith a plurality of pairs of opposed cooperating upper and lower lockingplates, one pair for each belt member, each of said looking plateshaving gear teeth for engagement with the gear teeth of its respectivebelt member, the upper member of each pair of locking plates beingrigidly fixed to its stanchion-and means for moving the lower member ofeach pair of looking plates until the gear teeth of said pair are forcedinto opposed tight wedging engagement with the gear teeth of theircooperating belt members, and means for normally urging each of saidstanchionsv and the fixed locking plates carriedthereby to an uppermostposition when said lower plate is unlocked in which the gear teeth ofall of the upper plates carried by said stanchion are completelydisengaged from the cooperating gear teeth of their respective beltmembers.

11. Dunnage apparatus for vehicles, of the type wherein a plurality ofU-shaped channeled stanchions are mounted for longitudinal movementalong longitudinally extending belt members secured to the innersidewalls of the vehicle and said belt members are provided with upperand lower flanges each having an uninterrupted series of projecting gearteeth characterized by the provision of an upper and a lower belt mem-'ber located respectively closely adjacent to the roof and to the floorof the vehicle, a third belt member located intermediate said upper andlower belt members, and said stanchions each being provided with aplurality of pairs of opposed cooperating upper and lower lockingplates, one pair for each belt member, each of said lockingplates-having gear teeth for engagement with the gear teeth of itsrespective belt member, the upper member of each pair of looking platesbeing rigidly fixed to its stanchion and means for moving the lowermember of each pair of locking plates until the gear teeth of said pairare forced into opposed tight wedging engagement with the gear teeth oftheir cooper-. ating belt member, a roller carrier mounted ad-- jacentto the upper end of each stanchion and provided with rollers resting onthe upper belt member, and compression springs confined be-' tween saidroller carrier and the upper fixed locking plate of the top pair of saidplates to cause said stanchion to be urged normally to an uppermostposition in which the gear teeth of all of the fixed locking platescarried by said stanchion are completely disengaged from the gear teethof their cooperating belt members.

12. Dunnage apparatus for vehicles, of the type wherein a plurality ofU-shaped channeled stanchions are mounted for longitudinal movementalong longitudinally extending belt mem bers secured to the innersidewalls of the vehicle and said belt members are provided with upperand lower flanges each having an uninterrupted series of projecting gearteeth, and said stan-' chions being provided with a plurality of pairsof opposed cooperating plates, one pair for each belt member, each ofsaid plates being provided with gear teeth for engagement with the gearteeth on said belt members, characterized by the upper member of eachpair of locking plates being rigidly fixed to the stanchion, and meansfor moving the other member of each pair of locking plates until thegear teeth of the pair of locking plates are forced into opposed tightwedging engagement with the gear teeth of their cooperating belt member,said means comprising a rotatable actuating member having a non-circularbore for the reception of a turning wrench, and a connecting linkpivotally connected at one end to said actuating member and at its otherend in abutting engagement with the movable member of a pair of lockingplates.'

13. Dunnage apparatus for vehicles, of the type wherein a plurality ofU-shaped channeled stanchions are mounted for longitudinal movementalong longitudinally extending belt members secured to the innersidewalls of the vehicle and said belt members are provided with upperand lower flanges each having an uninterrupted series of projecting gearteeth, and said stanchions being provided with a plurality of pairs ofopposed cooperating plates, one pair for each belt member, each of saidplates being provided with'gear teeth for engagement with the gear teethon said belt members, characterized by the upper member of each pair oflocking plates being rigidly fixed to the stanchion, and means formoving the other member of each pair of locking plates until the gearteeth of the pair of locking plates are forced into opposed tightwedging engagement with the gear teeth of their cooperating belt member,said means comprising a rotatable actuating member having a noncircularbore for the reception of a turning wrench, and a connecting linkpivotally connected at one end to said actuating member and at its otherend in abutting engagement with the movable member of a pair of lockingplates, said actuating member and said connecting link forming a togglelinkage and being provided with cooperating shoulder abutments to locksaid linkage in its extended condition.

14. Dunnage apparatus for vehicles, of the type wherein a plurality ofU-shaped channeled stanchions are mounted for longitudinal movementalong longitudinally extending belt members secured to the innersidewalls of the vehicle and said belt members are provided with upperand lower flanges each having an uninterrupted series of projecting gearteeth, and said stanchions being provided with a plurality of pairs ofopposed cooperating plates, one pair for each belt member, each of saidplates being provided with gear teeth for engagement with the gear teethon said belt members, characterized by the upper member of each pair oflocking plates being rigidly fixed to the stanchion, and means formoving the other member of each pair of locking plates until the gearteeth of the pair of locking plates are forced into opposed tightwedging engagement with the gear teeth of their cooperating belt member,said stanchions having plates secured thereto provided with verticallyspaced keyhole slots, cooperating plates having projecting pins forengagement with said slots and stirrups carried by said last-namedplates adapted to receive tubular crosspieces for engaging a pair oftires of an automobile. and holding said automobile in an inclinedposition with the other pair of tires thereof resting on the floor ofsaid vehicle.

15. Dunnage apparatus for vehicles, of the type wherein a plurality ofU-shaped channeled stanchions are mounted for longitudinal movementalong longitudinally extending channeled belt members secured to theinner sidewalls of the vehicle and said belt members are provided withupper and lower flanges each having an uninterrupted series ofprojecting gear teeth, and said stanchions being provided with aplurality of pairs of opposed cooperating plates, one pair for each beltmember, each of said plates being provided with gear teeth forengagement with the gear teeth on said belt members, characterized bythe upper member of each pair of locking plates being rigidly fixed tothe stanchion, a plurallty of abutment blocks carried by each of saidstanchions, one between the members of each pair of locking plates andprojecting into the channel of said belt member between the inner facesof the toothed flanges thereof, the width of each of said blocks beingslightly less than the distance between said inner faces and means formoving the other member of each pair of looking plates to force the gearteeth of said pair of plates into tight wedging engagement with the gearteeth of said flanges and to efiect a preloading of said flanges bydistorting them into tight clamping engagement with said block and meansfor automatically locking and holding said movable locking plate againstaccidental displacement after said clamping engagement has beeneffected.

16. Dunnage apparatus for vehicles comprising upper, lower andintermediate longitudinal horizontally extending belt members ofU-shaped cross section secured to the inner sidewalls of the vehicle andprovided with laterally extending upper and lower flanges each having anuninterrupted series of projecting rack gear teeth, a plurality ofvertical stanchions mounted for longitudinal adjustable movement alongsaid belt members, each of said stanchions being provided with aplurality of pairs of cooperating toothed locking plates, one pair foreach of said belt members, the upper member of each pair of lockingplates being rigidly fixed to said stanchion and the lower member ofeach of said pairs being mounted on said stanchion for movement towardsand away from its cooperating fixed pair member, a plurality ofabutments carried by said stanchion, one for each pair of locking platesand projecting into said belt members between and in spaced relationshipto the inner faces of the flanges of said belt member, means for movingthe movable toothed locking plate of each pair thereof towards the fixedplate of said pair to first force the teeth of said pair of plates intowedging engagement with the toothed flanges of said belt member and thento force said flanges into clamped engagement with said abutment therebyto efiect a localized pre-loading of said flanges in the region of eachpair of locking plates, and means for automatically locking and holdingsaid movable locking plate against accidental displacement after saidpreloading has been efiected.

17. Dunnage apparatus for vehicles comprising upper, lower andintermediate longitudinal horizontally extending belt members ofU-shaped cross section secured to the inner sidewalls of the vehicle andprovided with laterally extending upper and lower flanges each having anuninterrupted series of projecting rack gear teeth, a plurality ofvertical stanchions mounted for longitudinal adjustable movement alongsaid belt members, each of said stanchions being provided with aplurality of pairs of cooperating toothed locking plates, one pair foreach of said belt members, the upper member of each pair of lockingplates being rigidly fixed to said stanchion and the lower member ofeach of said pairs being mounted on said stanchion for movement towardsand away from its cooperating fixed pair member, a plurality ofabutments carried by said stanchion, one for each pair of locking platesand projecting into said belt members between and in spaced relationshipto the inner faces of the flanges of said belt member, means for movingthe movable toothed lockin plate of each pair thereof towards the fixedplate of said pair to first force the teeth of said pair of plates intowedging engagement with the toothed flanges of said belt member and thento force said flanges into clamped engagement with said abutment therebyto efiect a localized preloading of said flanges in the region of eachpair of locking plates, means for automatically locking and holding saidmovable locking plate against accidental displacement after saidpreloading has been effected, and resilient means for normally urgingeach of said stanchions and the fixed locking plates carried thereby toa position such that the teeth of said fixed locking plates will befully disengaged from the cooperating teeth of the flanges of each beltmember when said movable locking plates are moved to their extremenon-operative unlocked positions.

18. Dunnage apparatus for vehicles comprising upper, lower andintermediate longitudinal horizontally extending belt members ofU-shaped cross section secured to the inner sidewalls of the vehicle andprovided with laterally extending upper and lower flanges each having anuninterrupted series of projecting rack gear teeth, a plurality ofvertical stanchions mounted for longitudinal adjustable movement alongsaid belt members, each of said stanchions being provided with aplurality of pairs of cooperating toothed locking plates, one pair foreach of said belt members, the upper member of each pair of lockingplates being rigidly fixed to said stanchion and the lower member ofeach of said pairs being mounted on said stanchion for movement towardsand away from its cooperating fixed pair member, a plurality ofabutments carried by said stanchion, one for each pair of locking platesand projecting into said belt members between and in spaced relationshipto the inner faces of the flanges of said belt member, means for movingthe movable toothed locking plate of each pair thereof towards the fixedplate of said pair to first force the teeth of said pair of plates intowedging engagement with the toothed flanges of said belt member and thento force said flanges into clamped engagement with said abutment therebyto efitect a localized pro-loading of said flanges in the region of eachpair of locking plates, means for automatically locking and holding saidmovable locking plate against accidental displacement after saidpre-loading has been effected, resilient means for normally urging eachof said stanchions and the fixed locking plates carried thereby to aposition such that the teeth of said fixed locking plates will be fullydisengaged from the cooperating teeth of the flanges of each belt memberwhen said movable locking plates are moved to their extremenon-operative unlocked positions, and means for slidably connecting saidabutments to said stanchions whereby movement of said stanchions by saidresilient means will not be impeded by said abutments ARVIN C. WEBSTER.GEORGE W. WEBSTER.

REFERENCES CITED Name Date Reifer et a1 July 11, 1939 Number

